Leaf-controlling means for credit-registers.



E. J. PETERSON. LEAP GONTROLLING MEANS FOR CREDIT REGISTERS.

' APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 2s, 41913.

1,08?,977. Patented 11811.24, 1914.

23 22.' i; @e P l 12 1f 2z 21 P. 22 J/ g Ijgq a @Wm 11# W COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH Cc., WASHINGTON. D, C.

'.ERVEDOLF J. PETERSON, OF SALEM, OHIO.

LEAF-CONTROLLING MEANS FOR CREDIT-REGISTER.-

instaat.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Original application filed July l, 1913, Serial No. 782,169. Divided and this application filed October 28,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, FnnDoLr J. PnrnnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Leaf- Controlling Means for Credit- Registers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in credit registers suoli as are commonly used Vby merchants for ling and keeping credit slips, and especially to that class of suoli registers in which is provided a bank of hingedly mounted slip holding leaves. rEhe present application is a division of my application Serial No. 782,169 for patent on credit cabinet, filed July 31, 1913, and the invention, herein claimed, resides in the means for controlling the ymovement and operation of such leaves.

rIhe objects of the invention are to generally improve such leaf controlling means, to provide for maintaining the back leaf in a substantially perpendicular position .regardless of the movement of the remaining leaves and, by controlling the movement of suoli back leaf, to also direct and control, to a certain extent, the other leaves to which said back leaf is connected. These objects, together with other objects readily apparent to those skilled in the art, may be attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although the invention may be embodied in other forms, the construction illustrated being chosen by way of example.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a credit register embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe top portion of such register. Fig. is a fragmentary perspective view' showing a portion of one of the sides and a portion of the back of such registers, with the adjustable rear leaf support and retaining device connected thereto. Fig. et is a plan view showing the end of the retaining spring provided with the rear leaf engaging head. Fi 5 is a plan view showing the blank from which the rear leaf engaging head is formed. Fig. 6 is a plan of the end of the retaining spring to which the rear leaf engaging head is adapted to be attached. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the rear leaf retaining device. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional v view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

Serial No. 797,761.

Patented Feb. 24, 19141. i

Throughout the several views similar v mediately to the rear of said front leaf is a second leaf, hingedly connected at 6 to said front leaf, and following said second leaf and extending rearwardly is a plurality of similar leaves, serially connected together nections, in the manner now well understood by those skilled in the art. The rear leaf 7 is similarly connected to the rearmost intermediate leaf. It will be understood that, including the first leaf 5, any number or all of the intermediate leaves may be hingedly moved from the substantially vertical posi- -at their bottom ends by similar hinged con- Y tion illustrated in full lines in F ig. 1 to the substantially horizontal position illust-rated in dotted lines in said figure, and that as each leaf or number of leaves is so moved the hinged connection of the rear leaf 7 will be moved upwardly and forwardly. With such upward and forward movement of said hinged connection it is necessary to retain said rear leaf in substantially vertical position, and it thus becomes necessary to guide and control the upper end of said leaf when the lower end thereof is so moved. It will also be understood that those leaves which are in a substantially vertical position will be supported above the bottom 3 and that the weight of said leaves will tend to maintain them in the substantially vertical position provided means be supplied for preventing the upper ends of said leaves from falling backward. The entire weight of such leaves, especially when all of the same are in the substantially vert-ical position will thus be borne by the ears 4 in cooperation with such leaf sustaining means for preventing the upper ends from falling backward.

It is desirable to provide for the expansion in capacity of credit registers of the character herein described, and this may best be done by adding to the number of leaves, as may be required from time to time. The hinged connection for the rear leaf (not herein claimed) may be so made that the rear leaf may be disconnected from the rearrnost intermediate leaf and any desired number of intermediate leavesl added, the said rear leaf then being attached to the rearmost of said added leaves. The means for supporting the upper ends of the vleaves and preventing their falling backward. ef:- pecially when all of said leaves are in the substantially vertical position, must therefore be adjustable to accommodate the changing conditions with respect to the number of leaves in the register.

For the purpose of supporting the rearmost leaf adjacent its upper end and providing for the adjustment mentioned, horizontally disposed bars 8 are attached to the inner faces of the sides 1, the said bars being provided with a horizontal front to rear series of spaced, screw threaded apertures 9 into which may be entered the screw 10, which is provided with the bushing 11. The space between the centers of the apertures 9 should be substantially equal to the thickness of one of the intermediate leaves, so that by arranging the screws 1() in the appropriate corresponding apertures on the two respective sides the back leaf may be supported in substantially vertical position. 1f at any time the number of leaves in the register is increased or decreased the screws 10 may be moved backward or forward, as the circumstances may require. The bars 8 being preferably of considerably greater thickness than the sides 1 give a substantial bearing for the screws 10, and the said bars may be connected to said sides in any convenient mechanical manner, as bv spot welding.

For the purpose of guiding the back leaf forwardly at its upper end as the various leaves in front thereof are turned into the substantially horizontal position, thereby moving the back leaf upwardly, the spaced, inclined guide bars 12 are provided. Each of said bars is connected at its rear, low-er end to the back 2 and at its forward, upper end to the downward-turned front flange 13 of the top 14. The inclined portion of the bar 12 does not extend directly to the lower edge of the fiange 13, but is spaced downward therefrom by reason of the bend 15 in the bar, from which bend the bar extends vertically a short distance before engaging the flange 13, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. rllhe bend 15 is thus downwardly spaced from the lower edge of the flange 13, for the purpose hereinafter more fully described.

For the purpose of normally tending to draw the upper end of the rear leaf 7 into engagement with the bushings 11 or bars 12 a rear leaf retaining device consisting essentially of a convolute flat spring 16 is provided. rEhe inner end of said spring is fixedly connected to a shaft 17, which is rotatably mounted in forward extending, spaced ears 18 formed integrally with a base portion 19, which is fixedly connected to the back 2, preferably midway between the sides 1. rlhe spring is so formed as to have a tendency to coil tightly upon itself, in this respect acting oppositely from a clock spring of ordinary construction.

For the purpose of removably connecting the free end of the spring 16 to the rear leaf 7 a rear leaf engaging head, formed from sheet metal is provided. ln Fig. 5 is illustrated the blank from which such head is formed. Here it will be noted, that on each side of the head are arranged three connecting tangs, the tang 2O being arranged between adjacent tangs 21. From the body of the blank is formed a finger piece 22, which` is bent backwardly and upwardly and adapted to be engaged by the finger of the operator in lifting the hook portion 23 from the upper edge of the rear leaf. Said hook portion is formed from the three sided., rectangular frame extending around the finger piece 22 in the blank, as shown in Fig. 5, by bending said portion forwardly and downwardly so as to engage and hook over the top edge of the leaf 7.

For the purpose of attaching the leaf engaging hook to the free end of the spring 16, said spring, adjacent said end, is provided with the lateral notches 24 into which the tangs 20 are adapted to be bent, and folded down upon the spring 16, as illustrated in Fig. 4. IThe tangs 21 are then bent around the edges of the spring 16 and down upon the face thereof, as also illustrated in Fig. et. In said Fig. l it will be noted that the tangs 21 are shown in dotted lines in the position they assume before being bent down over the edges of the spring, and in full lin-es in the position they assume after being so bent.

It will be understood that when the hook portion 23 engages the top edge of the leaf 7 the spring 16 will tend to draw the upper' portion of said leaf backward, and as the various leaves of the bank are pivotally turned into the substantially horizontal position andthe leaf 7 rises into engagement with the guide bars 12, the spring 16 will unwind sufficiently, the shaft 17 revolving, so as to permit the upper edge of the leaf 7 to move forwardly and upwardly along said bars 12, while being held firmly in engagement with the same. The bends 15 in the bars 12 being downwardly spaced from the lower edge of the fla-nge 13, will permit the finger piece 22 to move forwardly and upwardly should there be a sufficient number of leaves in the register to cause the rear leaf to move forwardly and upwardly beyond said bends. Said bends being spaced from said flange also permit the operator to reach into the cabinet and grasp the finger piece 22 even when the rear leaf is in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l. Those skilled in the art will understand that banks of leaves such as her-ein described are removably connected to the ears 4l so that the entire bank may be removed when desired, as at night for the purpose of storage in a safe or vault. 1f it be desired to remove the leaves from the cabinet herein described, or if for any other reason it b-e desired to disconnect the retaining spring from the rear leaf it will be understood that the hook portion 23 Vmay be readily disconnected by grasping the nger piece 22 in the hand and lifting forwardly and upwardly.

lVhile 1 have thus shown and described the best mode in which 1 have contemplated embodying my invention, do not desire to be limited to the details of form and construction disclosed, for many changes may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. In a credit register, in combination with a cabinet and a bank of leaves pivotally mounted in said cabinet, an adjustable back leaf support adapted to be xedly connected to said cabinet in various positions, frontto-rear, and adapted to engage the rear leaf of said bank, to maintain the same in vertical position.

2. In a credit register, in combination with a cabinet and a bank of leaves such as described, spaced supporting pins adjustably connected to -the two sides of said cabinet and adapted to receive and support the rearmost leaf of said bank.

3. ln a credit register, in combination with a cabinet and a bank of leaves pivotally mounted therein, as described, spaced, horizontally disposed, front-to-rear-extending bars each provided with a front-to-rear series of screw threaded apertures, and rear leaf supporting means including a screw adapted to be arranged in any one of said apertures and to receive and support the rear leaf of said bank.

4. In a credit register, in combination with a cabinet and a bank of leaves pivotally mounted therein, leaf controlling means comprising an adjustable back leaf support adapted to be fixedly connected to said cabinet in various positions, front-to-rear, and adapted to engage the rear leaf of said bank, to prevent said leaf from pivotally moving backward and to maintain said leaf in vertical position, and a rear leaf retaining means comprising a flexible retractive member connected to said cabinet, and removably engaging said back leaf substantially at the upper end thereof and adapted to prevent forward pivotal movement of said leaf and to permit said leaf to move bodily forward,

while maintaining a substantially vertical position.

5. ln a filing appliance, the combination of a casing having sides, a set of holders having comiections between them permitting the holders to swing relatively to each other, means for supporting the front end holder of the set of holders in the casing, and means for guiding and supporting the rear end holder, the said means comprising` a horizontal bar arranged between the set of holders and one side of the casing, a supporting member, and means permitting adjustment of said member` along said bar.

G. 1n a filing appliance, the combination of a casing having sides, a set of holders having connections between them permitting the holders to swing relatively to each other, means for supporting the front end holder of the set of holders in the casing, and means for guiding and supporting the rear end holder, the said means comprising a horizontal bar arranged between the set of holders and one side of the casing, and formed with a series of openings, and a supporting member arranged to be removably mounted in any one of said openings, the said openings permitting the said member to be adjusted along the bar.

7. The combination of a casing, a set of holders having connections between them permitting said holders to swing relatively to each other, the connections between two of said holders being detachable, means for supporting the front end holder of the set of holders in the casing, a normally rigid member for supporting and vertically guidingV the rear end holderl of the set of holders, and means for adjustably supporting said member, the said adjustable supporting means cooperating with the detachable connections between two of the holders to permit the number of holders in the set to be increased or diminished.

S. In a tiling appliance, the combination with a casing having sides, of a set of holders having pivotal connections between them permitting said holders to swing relatively to each other singly or in groups, means for supporting the front end holder of said set of holders in the casing between the sides thereof, of a horizontal bar fixed to each side of said casing and arranged below the upper edges of said holders, and an inwardly eX- tending support removably secured to each of said bars and arranged to be engaged by the rear end holder of said sets of holders, the said support operating as a guide for the rear end holder as any of the remaining holders are operated.

9. In a filing appliance, the combination with a casing having sides, of a set of holders having pivotal connections between them permitting said holders to swing relatively to each other 'singlyy or in groups, means for adjustment of the shafts longitudinally of the bars and the rollers operating as guides Jfor the rear end holder as it moves vertically.

ln testimony that I claim the above, 15 have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDOLF J. PETERSON.

Witnesses: v

l,WILLIAM H; MILLER, NILES A. SPONSELLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing` the Commissioner of Patente. Washington, D. C. 

